 Shahrukh Khan, 90s film star |
Amitabh Bachchan is my hero. There is no other hero I have. In my time, in the seventies, Amitabh Bachchan is what I was brought up on. I remember his dialogues in every film. Anyone my age -- I'm 34 -- does. And say twenty years ago when I started watching films Amitabh Bachchan was my hero. I liked him in 'Satte Pe Satta'. I even put powder in my hair to look like his character in the film. I've tried to walk like him, I've tried to talk like him. When I come out and start acting out my scenes in Hindi films it is very difficult for me to try and do a drunken scene because I can't see it any other way than the way it is done by Mr Bachchan. Like the other day I was doing a scene with him. It was an emotional scene. He started to say something and I suddenly realised that I was sounding like him. You know, in an individual film I can speak like him and get away with it. I do also believe that a lot of actors of my time still act like him. And I'm one of them. I've stopped doing drunk scenes because I want to do them differently. Like in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's film 'Devdas', if I have to be drunk I have to learn how to be drunk differently than Mr Bachchan. I really think he's brilliant, so it's difficult not to do it like him.We were doing a scene and he said in a deep baritone, 'Kya ho raha hai aaj,' and I was going to do the scene exactly like him. My voice is not like that, but the tone is exactly the same. And I realised that there were two people who sounded exactly the same. For me to work with him is really tremendous and only then do you realise how small and miniscule you are. And that happens to me when I stand in front of him. I'm not over-awed as an actor because I'm a very proud actor. And I know very well that a lot of my learning of acting is from Mr Bachchan. I'll have to change that, which again will be a wonderful experience. There is the sense of knowing how small you are when you act with Mr Bachchan. (Filmfare, March 2000) |
 Govinda, 80s/90s film star |
Working with Amitji was a dream come true. With Hum and Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, I got the opportunity to work with the awesome actor. He is the eternal angry young man and an awesome actor. I learnt several finer points of acting from him...(Radiosargam, Jan 2000) |
 Raveena Tandon, 90s film actress |
Working with Bachchan sahab even now, you know it's a class apart completely. The man's a legend, besides me saying any words for him...Since I know him from my childhood days, I'm not in awe of him. Of course that changed everytime someone said "cut". Off screen we all used to be awe of him. There was this aura on the sets. But during working he makes everyone feel very, very comfortable, that's the greatness of the man! (ZeeTV, Oct 1998) |
 Aishwarya Rai, Miss World 1994/Film Actress |
He (Amitabh Bachchan) is timeless! (Filmfare, May 2000) |
 Mohan Deep, FilmTVIndia Editor |
The era of superstars ends with Amitabh Bachchan (Rediff.com, Aug 1996) |
 Sunil Shetty, 90s star |
Amitabh Bachchan is God, period. The God of Indian cinema...(Rediff.com, 1999)
|
 Rakhee, contemporary actress |
He has the capacity to change Indian cinema....he doesn't need crutches -- be it Govinda or David Dhawan. He should initiate projects. His talent is undisputed. We all know and accept, that as an actor, Amitabh can play havoc. (The Legend p91, 1999)
|
 Yash Chopra, legendary filmmaker |
When the Press calls him an enigma, it's no exaggeration. It's difficult to know what goes on in that head. There are compartments within him that nobody can invade. He is emotional, he is controlled, he is impulsive too, but these phases come and go. He withdraws when hurt. Then, he becoms closed and broods....He has never been indulgent of his status and what I've observed and understood of him, I am proud of him. (The Legend p128, 1999) |
 Hema Malini, superstar actress of the 70s |
Amitabh likes to enjoy himself and his moods are infectious. He has the capacity to create an ambience...What's intriguing about Amitabh's persona is that while he can be completely candid on sets, at public functions, he comes across as a complete stranger. It's almost as if he has a dual personality... (The Legend p152, 1999)
|
 Javed Akhtar, famous scriptwriter |
After Amar Akbar Anthony in '77, I'd say that Amitabh didn't do any films that challenged him as an actor (The Legend p180, 1999)
|
 Zeenat Amman, contemporary actress |
He (Amit) can be counted on in a moment of crisis and I can vouch for that personally. For an outdoor location during Ram Balram, a burglar got into my room at night. I was on my bed, when I saw a strange figure moving in my room. I jumbed out of my skin. I tried phoning the security, but before they could come to my aid, I was hysterically knocking on amit's door, next to mine. He was taken aback but sensing terror from me, ran and went after the intruder...He pulled up the hotel security for their lapse and made sure they got their act together....I cannot imagine amitabh giving into pressure....He retains his cool.
(The Legend p222, 1999)
|
 Ramesh Sippy, Film Director |
Dilip Kumar said that not only was Amitabh a very good actor, but peforms for the camera. Dilip Kumar always found the constraints of camera crippling the artiste in im. He longed to be able to master and blend the two, but couldn't. (The Legend p252, 1999)
|
 Rekha, contemporary actress |
Everything about him is unique. The way he holds his
leading ladies. He raises his neck and holds them under his chin. If
draping a sahwl, he embraces them along with it. The way he runs, it's
slow motion without decreasing (sic) the speed. His feline grace, despite
his long strides. The way he holds his gun with a tilt on the left hand.
The way he stands with his hands upturned on the hip. The way he breaks a
roti, with the same hand. The way he dances. He could look awkward because
of his height, he doesn't . The way he runs down the staircase. The way he
gallops on a horse, like a prince in a fairytale... (The Legend p295,
1999)
|
 Tinu Anand, Film Director |
I had turned weak and was losing courage, but Amitabh revived my spirit. Today, when I see (the fact that how Major Saab was able to be completed), I feel proud of myself. I feel proud of him. Even in the depths of despair, he did not surrender... (The Legend p322, 1999)
|
 Daler Mehndi, Bhangra Icon |
I was always a fan of Amitabh Bachchan. It would be more
correct to say that I was mad about him. When I met him,
we met like he was Amitabh Bachchan and I was Daler
Mehndi. But when I started shooting with him, it again
struck me that he was such a talented artiste. I have always
felt so, but working with him made me realise it all the
more. His sense of timing, his comedy, his dancing -- all of
it together really justifies his "Star of the Millennium" title. (Times of India, 01/04/2000)
|
 Aditya Chopra, director of DDLJ and Mohabbatein |
Amitji....He is superb, simply the best!! It is a callenge for me to direct a movie with an actor such wide-spread in acting talent in so many areas. (TV Asia, 02/26/2000)
|
 Neetu Singh, contemporary actress |
There will never be another Amitabh Bachchan again. Even his son cannot replace him. He has the eyes, the voice, the presence and the stature of a sperstar. After him, it's been a full stop. None of the younger heroes can hold a candle to him (The Legend p337, 1999)
|
